Wardrobe, cabinet and the like



H. DERMAN Feb, 16, 1937.

WARDROBE, CABINET, AND THE LIKE Filed July 2o, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR #Hte YZEM/sm/ Feb i6, 1937. H. DERMAN 2,070,924

WADROBE, CABINET, AND THE LIKE Filed July 20, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- Y V J l I l I 4d? INVENTOR #4e/C Y Efe/V14 AT'TORNEY! www ell)

Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE Application July .20,

9 Claims.

This invention relates to wardrobes, cabinets and similar articles of manufacture, designed for use in the storage or preservation of various articles of manufacture, and particularly articles of apparel; and the object of the invention is to provide a Wardrobe, closet or the like with a sliding door or closure member which will facilitate the use of the cabinet in a closet or other compartment without requiring the space usually occupied for the swinging of doors as in other articles of this class, while at the same time, producing a better seal and closure for the cabinet and a neater and more attractive appearance to the resulting article; a further object being to provide a sliding closure for wardrobes, closets, cabinets or the like which is composed cf a sheet or strip of single-faced corrugated board, whereby a sliding door or closure may be produced at a very nominal cost, and by arranging the corrugations externally, a neat and finished appearance is provided on the sliding door frame; a still further object being to provide a door of the class described to cabinets of the knock-down or collapsible type, regardless of the manner of constructing the same, the sliding door or closure being readily attached or mounted in position in the assemblage of the device; a further object being to provide means for guiding and bracing the door in its sliding movement with respect to the front door frame or side rails of a cabinet frame; a still further object being to provide a cabinet of the class described, the iront of which includes an upwardly extending fixed wall or closure portion whereby the lower end of the sliding door assumes a position when closed which may be readily reached by the operator to provide convenient opening and closing of the door opening to such cabinet; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose specied, which is simple in construction, eflicient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of `my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and

` in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a wardrobe or cabinet made according to my invention showing the top in a detached position, with part of the construction broken away.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view through 1936. Serial No. 91.488

(Cl. S12- 190) the cabinet shown in Fig. 1 in assembled position and with the door fully closed, part of the cabinet being broken away intermediate the ends thereof.

Fig. 3 is a section on. the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one corner portion of a cabinet showing a modified form of construction.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a front view of another form of cabinet which I employ.

Fig. 'l is a side view of `the construction shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a partial section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

Fig?. 9 is a partial section on the line 9-9 of Fig.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view substantially similar to that shown in Fig. 2, but showing only a part of the construction on an enlarged scale and showing a modification.

Fig. 1l is a perspective view of one part of the construction shown in Fig. 10, detached.

Fig. 12 is a. sectional view through the upper end portion of a cabinet showing a modified form of top wall construction.

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view through a modiiled form of -door element which I may employ.

Fig. 14 is a similar view of another form of door element; and.

Fig. 15 is a cross section through one ofthe door elements which I employ showing a modication.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown my invention as applied to the construction of what may be termed a wardrobe, cabinet, closet or the like, and it will be understood that in using any of these terms reference would be made to any type of article or container constructed in accordance with the teachings forming the subject matter of the construction herein shown, described and claimed, the present disclo'sure being illustrative of certain methods of carrying the invention into effect.

In Figs. 1 tov3 inclusive, I have shown a cabinet of what may be termed the knock-down or co1- lapsible type, which consists of a part I6 folded to form a central back wall. Il and similar-side walls I8. These walls are hingedly related at the corners wherethe side walls join the back wall. The forward edges oi the side wall have longitudinal frame strips I9 channeled at one side to receive the forward edges of the walls I8 as seen at 20, said side of the strips I9 having x i:pf` a sheet of single faced corrugated board with i 'rthecorrugations preferably exposed outwardly in the manner shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings so that the inner smooth surface of said door is free to ride over guide rods or rollers 24, 23 and 26 mounted on channeled strips 2 secured to the upper edges., of the side walls IB as clearly seen in Figs. 1 and'Zof the drawings. The strips 21 also support a. clothes hanging rod 2B which is arranged below'the rollers 24, 25 and 26. VIn the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the rods 24, 25 and 26are independent of the top or closure member 29 of the cabinet so as to facilitate the attachment and detachment of the door member 23 Whenever desired.

To aid in guiding the door. I may also employ rollers 30 in the -cut out 'upper corner portions 3I of the strips I9 to guide the door 23 in its movement from the channels or grooves 22 over the rollers 24, 25 and 23. The rear end of the door 23 is preferably provided with a weight 32 to aid in drawing and guiding said end of the door downwardly along the back wall I'l of the .cabinet and between this wall and a supplemental back wall Ila which is arranged in spaced relation to the wall I'I and has one side flange Hb thereof xed to one side wall I8 of the cabinet, whereas, the other` flange I'Ic is adapted to,fric tionally engage the opposed wall I8. The purpose of this construction is to provide a chamber or compartment 33 along the back wall in which the door is free to pass and so as to protect the door from coming in contact with clothing or other articles supported within the cabinet. The bottom wall 29a of the cabinet is of the same construction as the top wall and is detachable with respect to the part I6 in the same manner as the wall 29, and the brief description of one wall'will apply to the other. The wall 29 consists of a rectangular sheet tting over the top of the cabinet and having downwardly extending side and rear flanges 34. The forward edge of said wall has a reinforcing strip 35 which terminates short of the side flanges 34 to provide recesses 36 into which the upper ends of the rails I9 are adapted to pass. The corner portions of the end walls 29 are preferably reinforced by metallic corner pieces 3l. The front corner pieces are attachable to the upper ends of the rails I9.

At the lower portion of the front of the cabinet is a fixed or stationary closure wall 38, the upper and lower edges of which are provided with reinforcing strips 39 which have projecting tongues adapted to enter the channels or grooves 22, it being understood that the side edges of the closure 38 also enter such grooves. This closure 38 is preferably composed of a single faced corrugated sheet so as to make the front of the cabinet uniform in its appearance-in other words, to be consistent with the door or closure 23. The lower end of the door or closure 23 is provided with a reinforcing strip 40 having a finger piece or handle 4I which facilitates the sliding movement of said closure or strip 40 slidably engaging the channels 22. In addition thereto, L-shaped or angle iron clips 42 are attached to the inner surfaces of the strip 40 and are adapted to engage the channels or grooves 2| to hold or retain the door against detachment from the guide railsI I9 ,especially by a careless operator. However, then-use of the guide clips 42 is not absolutely essential.

It is preferred that Ithe xed front wall 38 including the strips 39 be of sufficient height to place the lowermost point of travel of the door 23 at a distance above the floor toconveniently reach the same, but, if desired, the door may slide substantially the full length of the door opening. When the top wall 29 is in position, the strips 2l? are concealed by the side anges 34 of said wall, the latter being arranged outwardly of the side walls I8 and the channeled strips 2l will be composed of very thin sheet metal.

When the cabinet is in knocked-down position, Y

the walls 23 and 38 are removed as well as the 43, as indicated in Fig. 13, one surface of which will have a plurality of closely arranged slits or cuts 44 to render the sheet 43 flexible and free to make relatively sharp bends, and the .other surface of the sheet 43 will be faced by a sheetof cloth or other fabric 45 to act as a binder. On the other hand, the door or closure may be constructed from a sheet of canvas or other fabric 46 to one surface of which is attached a plurality of independent strips or cleats 4l, the latterv being composed of cardboard, thin wood or any other suitable material.

In Fig. 15 of the drawings, I have shown means for reinforcing as well as sealing the side edges of a sliding door or closure, and in this figure, the closure 23 is shown for illustrative purposes. On the inner surface of the side edges of the closure 23 are arranged longitudinal strips 48 of any suitable material, preferably thin fabric or flat strips which will act to reinforce said edges, and at the same time, may also be employed to form a better seal for the side edges of the door in its sliding movement in the grooves or channels of the cabinet. One of the great aims in cabinets or wardrobes of the kind under consideration is to effect, as near as possible, a sealed cabinet, and this construction produces a better seal than other cabinets of its kind, thus materially improving the eiiiciency and utility of the device. This is true regardless of the use of the strips 48, and it will be understood that these strips are applicable to any type of sliding door structure.

In Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, I have shown a slight modification of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3, wherein the side rails I9a, only one of which is shown, include as an integral part thereof top and bottom rails 35a, only one of which is shown, so that the rails I9a, 35a constitute a rectangular frame which is detachable with respect to the side walls and the top and bottom walls of the cabinet; whereas, in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the rails I9 are xed to and are collapsible with the walls I8. In other words, with the structure shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the grooves 20 are eliminated, and

c 2,070,924 the outer surfaces of the rails I9a are recessedas seen at 49 to receive the forward edges of the side walls 50 of the cabinet, and the rails 35a are correspondingly formed to receive the forward edges of the top and bottom walls I. 'I'he rails I9a Will be provided with grooves 2Ia similar to the grooves 2| and grooves 22a similar to the grooves 22. It will be understood in connection with the modifications shown in Figs. 4 and 5, that the ,rectangular frame may be conveniently packed with the other walls of the cabinet when in collapsed position.`

In Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings, I have shown a slight modification of the constructionshown in Figs. `-1 to 3 inclusive, wherein the side rails I9b which are substituted for che rails I9 are shorter in length and the top strip 35h is longer in 4length than the strip 35 so as to rest upon the upper edges of the rails I9b. The inner surface of the strip 35h is cut out or recessed as seen at 52, and the rails I9b are provided with upwardly extending cam portions 53 in alinement with the grooves or channels 22b so that the door or closure member may pass freely from the channels or grooves 22h and bey guided by the cam portions 53 into the rst roller 24 as clearly seen in Fig 10 of the drawings. In other Words, the cam portions 53 take the place of the guide rollers 30 and with this construction, the roller 24 will be moved forwardly a greater degree in the manner shown. The length of the recess 52 in the strip 35h will be equal to the distance between the depth of opposed grooves 22h. While only one rail is shown in Figs. 10 and 11, both rails will be of the same construction.

In Fig. 12 of the drawings, I have shown another form of top wall construction which may be employed. With this construction, the wall consists of an outer part 54 having depending side anges 55 and an inner part 56 having depending side flanges 51 arranged in spaced relation to the flanges 55 so as to form a channel or groove to receive the upper edges of the walls of the cabinet which is represented at 58 in this figure. With this construction, the guide rollers 59 similar to the rollers 24, 25, and 26 as well as the hanger, if the` latter is employed, are secured to the inner anges 51 which constitutes a part of themtop wall structure. In assembling a cabinet of this type, the door or closure employed will first have to be threaded through the rollers 59 of the top wall before said top wall can be mounted in position, and in certain types of cabinets, this may be found to be desirable. Whereas, in the structure shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the door 23 is assembled with the cabinet before the top wall 29 is placed in position. The channeled strips 21 including the rollers attached thereto, form a unit which is detachable with respect to the walls I8 to facilitate the collapsing and compact folding of the complete cabinet.

In Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, I have' `shown another modification which is designed primarily for the construction of a cheap or economical cabinet. With this construction, the side and back Walls of the cabinet are of unitary construction as in Fig. 1 and the forward edges of the side Walls include foldable front anges 6a which take the place of the strips I9 in trimming or appearance. The flanges 80 are reinforced by wooden strips 6I secured to the inner surfaces thereof, note Fig. 9, the strips being grooved as seen at 62 to form between the same and a part of the flange 6I]r the grooves or channels for the sliding door or closure 53 which may be the door 23 I or a kdoor of the type shown in the other figures. At `84 is shown a groove equivalent to the grooves 2|.

The top wall 65 of the cabinet may be of the construction shown in Fig. 12, or simply on outer partsimilar to the part 54 including the flanges 55 with a guide hanger similar to the strips 21 and the rollers attached thereto employed on the upper edge of the cabinet walls. The bottom wall 36, however, is different from all of the bottom wall structures disclosed, primarily in including a front part 6T which is integral with and foldable with respect to the bottom wall of the bottom part 66 and includes side flanges 68 foldable onto the side walls of the cabinet and secured in position by suitable fasteners as at 69. The part 61 has a reinforcing strip 10 secured to the, inner surface thereof at its upper edge, which strip is adapted to t within the flanges 60 and also forms a stop against which a strip 1I at the lower, edge of the closure 63 is adapted to strike. In other words, the front part 61 takes the place of the detachable front or stationary panel part 38 including its strips 39, and at the same time, will produce the same functions and result.

Notwithstanding the fact that several different forms of construction have been'described herein, my invention will be applicable to various other types and kinds of wardrobe and cabinet construction, regardless of the type and kind of material employed in the construction thereof. It is understood in this connection, that where the drawings illustrate wooden rails or strips, metal strips may be employed, and in fact, various other parts of the cabinet structure may be composed of metal.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A knock-down cabinet of the class described comprising back, side and end walls and a front door opening, a sliding closure for said door opening comprising a member flexible in one direction, means forming part of the front edges of said side walls for engaging and guiding the side edges of the closure in the movement thereof to open and close said door opening, and means detachable with respect to the upper edges of the cabinet walls and arranged longitudinally of said edges and transversing the cabinet adjacent one end wall thereof for supporting and guiding said closure in its movement with respect to said end of the cabinet.

2. A knock-down cabinet of the class described comprising back, side and end walls and a front door opening, a sliding closure for the door opening comprising a freely exible elongated member consisting of two flexible elongated strips, one of said strips being corrugated and secured to one surface of the other strip with the corrugations spaced longitudinally, said member being movable longitudinally of the door opening, channeled strips arranged longitudinally of the front edges of said side Walls for engaging and guiding the side edges of said member in the operation of opening and closing said-door opening, and means in the form of a unit detachable with one end of the cabinet and supported on opposed side walls thereof,` said unit'having spaced front and rear means for guiding said member over and forwardly and backwardly in the cabinet adjacent one end wall thereof.

- 3. A knock-down cabinet of the class described comprising back, side and end walls and a front strips arranged longitudinally of the front edgesy of said side walls for engaging and guiding the side edges of said member in the operation of opening and closing said door opening, means in the form of a unit detachable with one end of the cabinet and supported on opposedside -walls thereof said unit having spaced front and rear' means for guiding said member over and forwardly and backwardly in the cabinet adjacent one end wall thereof, and means on said channeled strips adjacent said end wall for guiding said member onto and over said unit.

4. A knock-down cabinet of the class described comprising back, side and end walls and a front door opening, a sliding closure for the door opening comprising a freely flexible elongated member consisting of two exible elongated strips, one of said strips being corrugated and secured to one surface of the other strip with the corrugations spaced longitudinally, said member being movable longitudinally of the door opening, channeled strips arranged longitudinally of the front edges of said side Walls for engaging and guiding the side edges of said member in the operation of opening and closing said door opening, means in the form of a unit detachable with one end of the cabinet and supported on opposed side walls thereof, said unit having spaced front and rear means for guiding said member over and forwardly and backwardly in the cabinet adjacent one end wall thereof, means on said channeled strips adjacent said end wall for guiding said member onto and over said unit, and said end wall being notched to receive the upper ends of said channeled strips to dispose said last named means in close proximity to said end wall.

5. A knock-down sectional cabinet of the class described comprising paper board parts consisting of a back and side wall part, substantially similar end wall parts, a front wall part and a closure part, said wall parts when assembled forming a cabinet having an elongated opening at the front thereof, means longitudinally of opposed walls of said opening forming guide channels, said closure part comprising a freely flexing member consisting of an elongated strip of freely flexing material and a continuous corrugated strip of paper secured to one surface of the first named strip with the corrugations spaced longitudinally thereof, said member slldably engaging the channels of said means in the movement of said member longitudinally of said opening, means transversing the cabinet in close proximity to one end wall thereof for supporting and guidingsaid member in its movement forwardly and backwardly through the cabinet, and said last named means comprising a frame consisting of channeled strips adapted to be passed over the upper edges of the side walls of the first named cabinet part and rods coupling and spacing said channeled strips.

6. A knock-down sectional cabinet of the class described comprising paper board parts consisting of a back and side wall part, substantially similar end wall parts, a front Wall part and a closure part, said wall parts when assembled forming a cabinet having an elongated opening at the front thereof, means longitudinally of opposed walls of said opening forming guide channels, said closure part comprising a freely iiexing member consisting of an elongated strip of freely flexing material and a continuous corrugated strip of paper secured to one surface of the first named strip with the corrugations spaced longitudinally thereof, said member slidably engaging the channels of said means in the movement of said member longitudinally of said openings, means transversing the cabinet in close proximity to one end wall thereof for supporting and guiding said member in its movement forwardly and backwardly through the cabinet, said last named means comprising a frame consisting of channeled strips adapted to be passed over the upper edges of the side walls of the first named cabinet. part and rods coupling and spacing said channeled strips, and a garment supporting rod on said frame below said rst named rods.

7. A knock-down sectional cabinet of the class described comprising paper board parts consisting of a back and side wall part, substantially similar end wall parts, a front Wall part and a closure part, said wall parts when assembled forming a cabinet having an elongated opening at the front thereof, means longitudinally of opposed walls of said opening forming guide channels, said closure part comprising a freely flexing material and a continuous, corrugated strip of paper secured to one surface of the first named stri with the corrugations spaced longitudinally t ereof, said member slidably engaging the .channels o f said means in the movement,y of said member 'longitudinally of said opening, means detachable with respect to the upper edges of the cabinet walls and arranged longitudinally of said edges and transversing the cabinet in close proximity to one end wall thereof for supporting and guiding said member in its movement forwardly and backwardly through the cabinet, and a supplemental back wall part hingedly coupled with and collapsible on one of the side walls of the first named part and engaging the other side Wall thereof to form means to guide the inner end portion of the closure part in its movement longitudinally of sal-id back wall.

8. A knock-down cabinet of the class described comprising basl-r, side and end Walls and a front door opening, asliding closure for the door openingcomprising a freely flexible elongated member consisting of two flexible elongated strips, one of 'said strips being corrugated and secured to one-surface of the other strip with the cor-` rugations spaced longitudinally, said member being movable longitudinally of the door opening, channeled 4rails arranged longitudinally of the front edges of said side walls for engaging and guiding the side edges of said member in the operation of opening and closing said door, means detachable with respect to the upper edges of the cabinet walls and arranged longitudinally of said edges and transversing the cabinet adjacent one end wall thereof for supporting and guiding said member forwardly and backwardly through the cabinet and substantially parallel to the end wall thereof, and means at the free end of said member cooperating with independent channels in said rails for providing supplemental guides for said member in its movement longitudinally of said rails.

9. A knock-down cabinet ofthe class described comprising detachably and collapsibly related wall parts which when assembled form an elongated cablnet consisting of back, side and end 10 nection with the cabinet at one end Wall thereof, f

said unit having spaced front and rear means for supporting and guiding said member over and forwardly and backwardly through the cabinet adjacent said end wall, means forming a stationary closure for the front of the cabinet at one end portion thereof, and said last named means constituting an integral part of one end wall of the cabinet. t

HARRY DERMAN. 

